Michael Keaton: 10 Fascinating Facts
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Real Name Revelation:
Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas, but he changed it to avoid confusion with the famous actor Michael Douglas
Humble Beginnings:
Coming from Pennsylvania, Keaton's father was a civil engineer, and his mother was a homemaker. He is half-Irish on his mother's side
College Dropout:
Keaton studied speech at Kent State University for two years but dropped out to pursue fame in Pittsburgh
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood:
One of his early roles was as a "Flying Zookeeni Brother" on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where he also worked as a production assistant
Unique Name Choice:
Contrary to popular belief, Keaton did not name himself after Diane Keaton or Buster Keaton; he randomly chose "Keaton" from the phone book
Woody Allen Incident:
Keaton was kicked off the set by Woody Allen in The Purple Rose of Cairo, being deemed "too modern" for the role
Dramatic Breakthrough:
Keaton transitioned successfully from comedic roles to dramatic ones in Tim Burton's Batman, surprising critics and audiences alike
Fly Fishing with Henry Winkler:
He enjoys fly fishing with Henry Winkler, known for his role as "The Fonz" in Happy Days
French Honor:
France awarded him the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, joining the ranks of esteemed artists like Meryl Streep and Robert Redford
Ad-libbing Skills:
In Beetlejuice, Keaton allegedly ad-libbed 90% of his lines, showcasing his improvisational talent in one of his favorite films